VOLVO GETS LIFT FROM SWEDISH ROCKETS THRUST

Volvo Aero has welcomed a Swedish government decision to remain involved in the European Space Agency's Ariane launchers programme, despite its concerns about cost efficiency and political transparency. Company president Staffan Zackrisson says the move will save about 150 jobs in Trollhättan: "This means that we will maintain our leading position in nozzles and turbines for space rockets."

SPIRIT: READY TO GROW WITH 787

Spirit AeroSystems is prepared to deliver Boeing 787 shipsets at a rate of seven a month should Boeing order a rate increase. Fuselage business head Richard Buchanan says Spirit will deliver 10-12 787 shipsets in 2009 and hold that two-a-month rate into 2010 until Boeing signals its readiness to ramp up. Boeing plans to deliver 10 787s a month by 2012.

S&P DOWNGRADES BRITISH AIRWAYS

Standard & Poor's has revised its outlook on British Airways to negative from stable following the carrier's posting of a pre-tax loss of £401 million ($643 million) and £150 million operating loss for its fiscal year 2009, to the end of March, and withdrawal of any earnings guidance for its current, 2010 year. S&P credit analyst Eve Greb says: "We had anticipated BA to target a level of operating performance in fiscal 2010 comparable with the previous year." In its year to 31 March 2008, BA made a pre-tax profit of £922 million.

TATA GEARS UP FOR US CLIENT

Tata Advanced Systems is to invest Rp10,000 million ($210 million) in a production facility in the aerospace special economic zone near the greenfield international airport at Shamshabad near Hyderabad to make large commercial transport helicopters for an as-yet unnamed US company. The facility should be operational by mid-2010.

VIRGIN NIGERIA TO LOSE 'VIRGIN' BRAND NAME

Virgin Nigeria has to rebrand by 7 July to reflect discontinuation of 49% shareholder Virgin Atlantic's technical co-operation and day-to-day involvement with the carrier it established five years ago. Virgin Atlantic, which is looking to sell its stake, says the Lagos-based airline "has been a successful business in terms of a strong safety culture and growth in Nigeria", adding that it "doesn't need the branding cost" of the Virgin link. Names being considered include Nigerian Eagle and Air Nigeria.

GENERAL DYNAMICS HAS EYES FOR SENSOR MAKER

General Dynamics' Advanced Information Systems business unit is to acquire electro-optical and infrared sensor systems and multi-axis stabilised cameras maker Axsys Technologies for $643 million. Connecticut-based Axsys employs 1,000 workers and expects 2009 sales of $280 million. Customers include the US military, security and law enforcement agencies as well as energy and film production companies.

DONALDSON FILTERS OUT BRAND NAMES

Minneapolis-based filtration systems-maker Donaldson is rebranding its St Louis-based Aerospace Filtration Systems, Paris-based Le Bozec Filtration and Systems, and Valencia, California-based Western Filter operations as the Donaldson Aerospace and Defense Group.

Source: Flight International